Statement by Spokesman of Foreign Ministry

On February 1 the Saigon authorities in south Viet Nam, after recently intruding into China's Hsi-sha Islands and being dealt a heavy blow by Chinese armymen and civilians, again dispatched their naval vessels to invade and occupy Nantzu and other islands of China's Nansha Islands and illegally put up so-called 'sovereignty markers" on them. This is a wanton infringement on China's territorial integrity and sovereignly and a new military provocation against the Chinese people by the Saigon authorities. The Chinese Government and people strongly condemn and protest against it. The Chinese Government has stated on many occasions that the Nansha. Hsisha. Chungsha and Tungsha Islands are all part of China's territory and that the People's Republic of China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands and the sea areas around them. The Government of the People's Republic of China definitely will not tolerate infringement on China's territorial integrity and sovereignty by the Saigon authorities on any pretext. This position of the Chinese Government is firm and unshakable.